How do I compare the total cost of attending McGill and the University of Toronto as an Ontario student?

At U of T, include compulsory incidental and student-service fees, plus the residence and meal-plan cost for the specific campus you were admitted to: St. George, Scarborough, and Mississauga do not have identical housing costs or commuting patterns. At McGill, include tuition, Quebec student fees, residence and meal plan if applicable.

A U of T offer can become far cheaper if you live with family and use local transit, whereas moving to Montreal normally means residence or an off-campus lease, food, utilities, internet, and furnishings.

Add transportation realistically: local transit for U of T, versus trips between Ontario and Montreal, baggage, and travel home during breaks for McGill. Also budget for books, course materials, a laptop or software where relevant, phone, personal spending, and winter clothing if you do not already have it.

Finally, compare net cost, not sticker price. Subtract only scholarships, bursaries, OSAP funding, savings, and family support that you can reasonably count on each year. Put both offers into the same spreadsheet with one-time costs separated from annual costs; that makes it clear whether a first-year residence package or a renewable scholarship is driving the difference.